Variety shows were once a ubiquitous presence on British television screens. Thames Television's 'Wednesday At Eight' was typical of the genre. Its host was the late Liverpudlian comedian Tom O'Connor, an 'Opportunity Knocks! Winner who'd ascended to the top in a short space of time. He also got to compare the well-remembered 'Name That Tune' segment in which contestants spun a wheel and got to hear the opening notes of a tune which they then had to identify. This segment proved so popular it was later given a spin-off series after 'Wednesday At Eight' had finished.
The guests included the likes of Frankie Howerd, Frankie Vaughn, The Three Degrees, and impressionist Paul Melba. One week the studio was gate-crashed by the cast of the hit sitcom 'Get Some In!'. "I would like to marry Elisabeth Taylor!" declared Richardson. "Who wouldn't?" added Leckie. Corporal Marsh interjected, "Who hasn't?". A later edition featured Robert Lindsay as his 'Citizen Smith' character.
'Eight' ran from 1976 to 1978 and resurfaced under the title 'London Night Out'. As far as I know, nothing remains of the series in the archive ( I would love to be proved wrong about that ) which, given the talent involved in its making, seems a bit of a shame.
The guests included the likes of Frankie Howerd, Frankie Vaughn, The Three Degrees, and impressionist Paul Melba. One week the studio was gate-crashed by the cast of the hit sitcom 'Get Some In!'. "I would like to marry Elisabeth Taylor!" declared Richardson. "Who wouldn't?" added Leckie. Corporal Marsh interjected, "Who hasn't?". A later edition featured Robert Lindsay as his 'Citizen Smith' character.
'Eight' ran from 1976 to 1978 and resurfaced under the title 'London Night Out'. As far as I know, nothing remains of the series in the archive ( I would love to be proved wrong about that ) which, given the talent involved in its making, seems a bit of a shame.
